FIRE chiefs in Rossendale have warned businesses to be on their guard against firebugs after a blaze at a mill in Whitworth.

Firefighters were called to the blaze at Bridge Mill, Market Street, at shortly after 5.30pm yesterday and spent more than two hours tackling the fire, which is being treated as suspicious.

Fire investigators and building inspectors were due to return to the scene of the blaze today to try to establish how it was started.

The mill is used as separate industrial units, although the unit hit by the blaze was disused.

Station Officer Barry Ryan, from Rawtenstall, said business owners should make sure they did everything they could to minimise the risks of an arson attack on their premises.

He added: "It is well worth while for all businesses in the area to invest in security to try to prevent attacks.

"It is very easy to cut down on the risk by taking a few easy steps like making sure there are no piles of rubbish near buildings and that broken windows or other means of access which could be used by arsonists are blocked off."